By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Former Kennesaw State volleyball standout
Manu Johnsen was one of 42 exceptional student-athletes to be awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the national office announced this month. She is the first student-athlete from KSU to receive the postgraduate scholarship since the 2016-17 season.
The NCAA awards the $10,000 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes, representing fall sports across all three NCAA divisions, that have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, athletic excellence and leadership within their communities. The award is a one-time, nonrenewable scholarship intended to support graduate study at an accredited institution.
Johnsen, a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, finished her career as an Owl this past fall with her fourth straight all-conference season. She claimed First-Team All-Conference USA accolades while leading the Owls to a top-90 finish and a 19-9 overall record. She helped KSU to a third-place in Conference USA play at 12-4, and the Owls would reach the semifinals of a conference tournament for the 11th straight season.
Her many accolades for her final year included AVCA All-Southeast Region Honorable Mention, along with a spot on the CUSA All-Academic Team after graduating in just three and a half years with a perfect 4.0 cum GPA.
"I am extremely proud of Manu and her academic and athletic success," said Randy Kennedy, associate athletic director for student-athlete success services. "It is no small feat to move halfway around the globe and attend a school speaking a different language and earn a Biology degree with a 4.00 while competing at an extremely high level athletically, but I am not surprised that Manu was able to achieve it. She has an incredible drive to pursue her goals and I have no doubt she will continue to be successful in her professional career after volleyball, and this scholarship will help her achieve those goals. "
Johnsen made her mark on the Kennesaw State record book as she broke the school record for career kills, which now stands at 1,584 in her four years wearing the Black and Gold. She also set the new school standard for most points in a career with 1808,5, while her 141 career service aces are also the second-highest ever by an Owl, and the most by a four-year player.
With her indoor volleyball eligibility exhausted after four years in Kennesaw, Johnsen moved to the West Coast this spring, to play for the USC Trojans in beach volleyball while pursuing her master's degree.
